Heading machine

ABSTRACT

In a heading machine ( 1 ) including a-machine frame ( 2 ) equipped with a travelling mechanism ( 3 ), a cutter boom ( 7 ) mounted so as to be pivotable in the height direction and carrying cutting tools ( 9 ), a preferably liftable and lowerable haulage device ( 11 ), and a supporting device for bracing the heading machine ( 1 ) within the road, wherein the supporting device includes a vertical support equipped with props that are braceable between the roof and the floor and to which support plates ( 14 ) are articulately joined on the roof and floor sides, as well as a longitudinal support connecting the roof-side end of the vertical support with the machine frame ( 2 ) and carrying a dust exhaust system, the dust exhaust system is held in a frame ( 23 ) that is mounted on the longitudinal support so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis ( 24 ).

Priority is claimed to Austria Pat. App. Ser. No. A 417/2010, filed Mar. 15, 2010, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a heading machine comprising a machine frame equipped with a travelling mechanism, a cutter boom mounted so as to be pivotable in the height direction and carrying cutting tools, a preferably liftable and lowerable haulage device, and a. supporting device for bracing the heading machine within the road, wherein the supporting device comprises a vertical support equipped with props that are braceable between the roof and the floor and to which support plates are articulately joined on the roof and floor sides, as well as a longitudinal support connecting the roof-side end of the vertical support with the machine frame and carrying a dust exhaust system.

A heading machine of this type is, for instance, described in Austrian Patent AT 399202 B. The vertical support of the machine, in the subject matter of that patent, each comprises, on both sides of the longitudinal central plane, at least one hydraulic cylinder piston unit between a support trestle fixed to the machine frame and the floor as well as between the support trestle and the roof, said cylinder piston units being on the one end articulately joined to floor support plates that are pressable against the floor, and to a roof cap respectively, and, on the other end, articulately joined to the support trestle. The longitudinal support, in the subject matter of that patent, comprises thrust supports to connect the floor support plates and the roof caps with the machine frame. Horizontal forces introduced in the longitudinal direction of the machine will thus be immediately taken up by those thrust supports so as to avoid deflection loads on the hydraulic cylinder piston units in the vertical support. The thrust supports each span a triangle with the vertical support, thus improving the support. In addition, the thrust support attached to the roof caps offers the advantage of enabling the integration of a dust exhaust system. In this context, Austrian Patent AT 399202 B provides that the thrust support is designed as a box-shaped, i.e. hollow, section adapted for the protected accommodation of a dedusting airduct.

The configuration according to Austrian Patent AT 399202 B involves the drawback that the box section of the thrust support can only be used as a dedusting channel and that other components of a dedusting installation cannot be integrated therein. It is, in particular, not possible to arrange a wet deduster in the box section, bearing in mind the limited space available there.

A wet deduster can, for instance, be taken from DE 102004012967 A1. That wet dedusting device, in the inlet channel, comprises a demister provided with moistening nozzles, a droplet collector and a ventilator arranged in the outlet channel. The deduster and ventilator housing is preferably mounted on the heading machine in the region between the cutter arm and the haulage device, which results in a considerable space requirement. Due to the arrangement of the wet deduster between the cutter arm and the haulage device, the suction opening of the wet deduster is provided at a relatively large distance from the cutting tools. Such a set-back arrangement is, however, necessary for the subject matter of DE 102004012967 A1 in order to avoid a collision with the cutter arm, particularly in the upwardly pivoted state.

From U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,353 A, a heading machine comprising a dust control system can be taken. The dust control system is comprised of a combination of relatively displaceable hollow profiles so as to enable the exhaustion of dust as close to the working face as possible.

A heading machine known from PL-160 331 B1 comprises a dust exhauster whose lower side has a pivotable bottom on its end facing the working face so as not to restrict the movement of the cutter boom.

The present invention aims to provide a dedusting means and, in particular, a wet dedusting means whose suction opening is arranged as close to the location of dust development as possible, i.e. near the cutting tools, without affecting the vertical pivoting of the cutter boom and without increasing the structural height of the heading machine.

To solve this object, the heading machine of the initially defined kind, according to the invention is substantially further developed such that the dust exhaust system is supported in a frame that is mounted on the longitudinal support so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. By holding the dust exhaust system in a separate frame that is mounted on the longitudinal support so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis, the integration of the dust exhaust system in the region of the existing longitudinal support has become possible, whereby a collision with the cutter boom and/or the preferably liftable and lowerable haulage device is prevented in that, due to its pivotability about a substantially horizontal axis, the frame of the dust exhaust system is able to evade accordingly. The separate frame also allows dust exhauster components requiring more space to be arranged in the region of the longitudinal support. This will, in particular, enable a configuration in which, as in correspondence with a preferred further development, the dust exhaust system comprises a wet deduster received within the frame and including moistening nozzles for moistening the dust entering the wet deduster, and a droplet separator. On account of the articulated installation feature on the longitudinal support, the arrangement of a wet deduster is also feasible with low-structured heading machines for accordingly low road heights, without restricting the manipulation space for the anchor drilling and setting devices. Insufficient manipulation space would, in fact, be available to the operators of the anchor drilling and setting devices, if the wet deduster were to be laterally attached to the machine frame and only the continuing airduct could be realized via the hollow spaces provided in the longitudinal support.

The configuration according to the invention allows for the optimum utilization of the space left between the cutter boom and the haulage device, wherein, as already pointed out above, it merely has to be taken care that the free movement of the cutter boom and the haulage device will not be restricted. The pivotable mounting of the frame for the dust exhaust system in a simple manner thus allows for an adaptation to changing space conditions, for instance in the event that the haulage device is shifted or pivoted in the vertical direction. When pivoting the haulage device upwardly, the frame of the dust exhaust system can be entrained due to the pivotable mounting on the longitudinal support, so as not to impede the overall pivotability of the haulage device. In order to reduce the material wear on the contact sites between the haulage device and the frame in such an event, it is provided according to a preferred configuration that the haulage device or the frame carries wear ledges on the contact sites with the respective other part.

In order to enable the entrainment of the frame during the upward pivoting of the haulage device over as large a distance as possible, a preferred further development provides that the pivot bearing for the pivotal mounting of the frame is arranged on the frame end facing the cutting tools.

The optimum space utilization at the simultaneous option of a protected arrangement of the dust exhaust system results in the context of a preferred further development in that the frame is arranged between two longitudinal struts of the longitudinal support and pivotally fixed to the same.

The exhaustion of dust-laden air as close to the working face as possible according to a preferred further development is effected such that the dust exhaust system comprises a front exhaust channel having a bottom plate that is displaceable or pivotable in the height direction such that the cross section of the front exhaust channel is reduced at a collision with the cutter boom. Exhaustion can, in particular, be performed in the region between the cutting tools and the travelling mechanism. To this end, the configuration is further developed such that the front exhaust channel comprises a suction opening facing the cutting tools and arranged in the region between the cutting tools and the travelling mechanism, preferably in the region of the vertical support.

The configuration of the front channel with a bottom plate that is vertically displaceable or pivotable enables the arrangement of the front exhaust channel forwardly as far as into the pivoting range of the cutter boom, whereby the vertical pivotability of the cutter boom will not be limited, since the bottom plate will be entrained by the cutter boom at a collision of the cutter boom with the front exhaust channel, in which case it merely will have to be accepted that the cross section of the front exhaust channel will be accordingly reduced. The constructive realization of the front exhaust channel with a vertically displaceable or pivotable bottom plate in a simple manner is preferably effected in that the side walls of the front exhaust channel are each formed by mutually overlapping and relatively displaceable upper and lower wall elements, or by a flexible wall element.

In a preferred manner, it is provided that the front exhaust channel is connected to the frame end facing the cutting tools, wherein the largest cross-sectional changeability of the front exhaust channel is ensured in that the pivot bearing for pivoting the bottom plate of the front exhaust channel is arranged in the region of connection of the front exhaust channel to the frame.

The optimum integration of the front exhaust channel in the longitudinal support is ensured according to a preferred further development in that the ceiling of the front exhaust channel is fixed to, or formed by, a plate connecting the two longitudinal struts of the longitudinal support.

The frame itself may likewise comprise a channel element, and in this connection it is preferably provided that the frame is equipped with an intermediate channel on its side facing the cutting tools, wherein moistening nozzles, droplet separators and the like are arranged to follow said intermediate channel in the case of wet dedusting.

It should basically be noted that the present invention is not limited to the arrangement of a wet deduster in the frame that is pivotally mounted on the longitudinal support, but that, instead of the deduster, a simple airduct system to an external dedusting plant can be mounted on said frame.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by way of an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawing. Therein,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heading machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the heading machine according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a separate illustration of the longitudinal support with an integrated dust exhaust system;

FIG. 4 is a view of the longitudinal support with an integrated dust exhaust system according to arrow IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the longitudinal support with an integrated dust exhaust system; and

FIG. 6 is a separate illustration of the frame.

The heading machine 1 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a machine frame 2, which is displaceable by a travelling mechanism 3 (FIG. 2). The machine frame 2 comprises a lateral working platform 4 with a protective plate 5. From the front region of the working platform 4, anchor drilling and setting devices 6 arranged on both sides of the longitudinal central plane of the machine can be operated. To the machine frame 2 is hinged a cutter boom 7 so as to be pivotable in the vertical or height direction. The cutter boom 7 carries a cutting roller 8 which can be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation and carries a plurality of cutting tools and, in particular, cutting bits 9. By the aid of raking tools 10, the rock extracted by the cutting tools 9 is raked to a haulage device 11 extending centrally in the longitudinal direction of the machine. The haulage device 11 emerges from the frame 2 in the rear region of the machine and comprises a stacker conveyor 13, which is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis 12 and serves to dump the material onto a consecutively provided, stationary or trailed road conveying means.

To brace the heading machine 1 within the road, props are provided, which are not illustrated for the sake of clarity and are braceable between the roof caps 14 and floor support plates arranged in the region of the anchor drilling and setting device 6, to ensure vertical support. Longitudinal support is ensured via thrust supports or longitudinal struts 15 that are coupled to the roof caps 14 and hinged to the machine frame at 16. A plate 17 connects the two longitudinal struts 15 with the roof caps 14 and comprises two lateral recesses 18 for the passage of the anchor drilling and setting devices 6 during the drilling of boreholes and the setting of anchors in the roof.

When extracting rock, large amounts of dust occur, rendering the operation of the machine by operators difficult and also jeopardizing the safety of operation. Protection plates 19 are provided to protect the operators. Furthermore, a dust exhaust system is provided, which, according to the invention, is integrated in the longitudinal support. The suction opening of the dust exhaust system is denoted by 20 in FIG. 1. The dust-laden air, via the suction opening 20, is sucked into the dust exhaust system designed as a wet deduster 21, where the dust is separated. The exhaust air, which is at least partially cleaned from dust, can subsequently be drawn off the road, to which end the wet deduster 21 comprises a connection 22 to a flexible airduct.

From the side view of the heading machine 1 according to FIG. 2, it is additionally apparent that the haulage device 11 is arranged to be pivotable in the height direction as illustrated by broken lines.

FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail the dust exhaust system integrated in the longitudinal support. It is apparent that the deduster 21 is held in a frame 23, with the frame 23 being mounted on the longitudinal struts 15 so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis 24. This pivotability is schematically indicated by double arrow 25. In the region 26, the various components of the wet deduster 21 such as, e.g. moistening nozzles for moistening the dust entering the wet deduster 21 as well as a droplet separator, are arranged. The aspiration of the dust-laden air takes place via a front exhaust channel 27. The bottom plate of the front exhaust channel 27 is denoted by 28 and mounted so as to be pivotable in the sense of arrow 30, about a substantially horizontal pivot axis 29. In the lower position of the bottom plate 28, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, the front exhaust channel 27 has its largest cross section. In this position, the bottom plate 28 is held by the aid of a chain 31. If the cutter boom 7 collides with the bottom plate 28 as it is pivoted upwards, the latter will be entrained in the sense of arrow 30, with the cross section of the front exhaust channel 27 being accordingly reduced.

In the top view according to FIG. 4, the arrangement of the deduster 21 between the two longitudinal struts 15 is particularly clearly visible. Furthermore, the tapering intermediate channel 32 provided between the front exhaust channel 27 and the wet deduster 21 can be seen.

In FIG. 5, the longitudinal support is illustrated in broken lines so as to more clearly indicate the frame 23 with the wet deduster 21 received in the frame 23.

In FIG. 6, the frame 23 is separately illustrated, with the lateral pivots 33 by which the frame 23 is pivotally suspended in respective bearing sites of the longitudinal struts 15 being particularly apparent. 

1. A heading machine comprising a machine frame equipped with a travelling mechanism, a cutter boom mounted on the heading machine so as to be pivotable in a height direction, the cutter boom carrying cutting tools, a haulage device, and a supporting device for bracing the heading machine within a road, wherein the supporting device comprises a vertical support equipped with props that are braceable between a roof and a floor of a gallery, support plates being articulately joined to the props on a roof-side end and on a floor-side end thereof, wherein the supporting device further comprises a longitudinal support connecting the roof-side end of the vertical support with the machine frame and carrying a dust exhaust system, and wherein the dust exhaust system is supported in a dust exhaust system frame (23) that is mounted on the longitudinal support so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis (24).
 2. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein the haulage device is configured to be liftable and lowerable.
 3. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein the dust exhaust system comprises a wet deduster (21) received within the dust exhaust system frame (23) and comprising moistening nozzles for moistening dust entering the wet deduster (21), and a droplet separator.
 4. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein a pivot bearing for pivotal mounting of the dust exhaust system frame (23) is arranged on an end of the machine frame facing the cutting tools (9).
 5. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal support comprises two longitudinal struts (15), the dust exhaust system frame (23) being arranged between the two longitudinal struts (15) and pivotally fixed to the two longitudinal struts (15).
 6. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein the dust exhaust system comprises a front exhaust channel (27) having a bottom plate (28) that is displaceable or pivotable in a height direction (30) such that a cross section of the front exhaust channel (27) is reduced at a collision with the cutter boom (7).
 7. A heading machine according to claim 6, wherein the front exhaust channel (27) comprises a suction opening (20) facing the cutting tools (9) and arranged in a region between the cutting tools (9) and the travelling mechanism (3).
 8. A heading machine according to claim 7, wherein the suction opening (20) is arranged in a region of the vertical support.
 9. A heading machine according to claim 6, wherein side walls of the front exhaust channel (27) are each formed by mutually overlapping and relatively displaceable upper and lower wall elements, or by a flexible wall element.
 10. A heading machine according to claim 6, wherein the front exhaust channel (27) is connected to an end of the dust exhaust system frame (23) facing the cutting tools (9).
 11. A heading machine according to claim 10, wherein a pivot bearing (29) for pivoting the bottom plate (28) of the front exhaust channel (27) is arranged in a region of connection of the front exhaust channel (27) to the dust exhaust system frame (23).
 12. A heading machine according to claim 5, wherein the dust exhaust system comprises a front exhaust channel (27) having a bottom plate (28) that is displaceable or pivotable in a height direction (30) such that a cross section of the front exhaust channel (27) is reduced at a collision with the cutter boom (7).
 13. A heading machine according to claim 12, wherein a ceiling of the front exhaust channel (27) is fixed to, or formed by, a plate (17) connecting the two longitudinal struts (15) of the longitudinal support.
 14. A heading machine according claim 1, wherein the dust exhaust system frame (23) is equipped with an intermediate channel (32) on a side of the dust exhaust system frame (23) facing the cutting tools (9).
 15. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the haulage device (11) and the dust exhaust system frame (23) carries a wear ledge on a site of contact between the haulage device (11) and the dust exhaust system frame (23).
 16. A heading machine according to claim 1, wherein the vertical support is arranged in a region between the cutting tools (9) and the travelling mechanism (3).
 17. A heading machine according to claim 16, wherein anchor drilling and setting devices (6) are arranged in a region between the cutting tools (9) and the travelling mechanism (3).
 18. A heading machine according to claim 2, wherein a pivot bearing for pivotal mounting of the dust exhaust system frame (23) is arranged on an end of the machine frame facing the cutting tools (9).
 19. A heading machine according to claim 3, wherein a pivot bearing for pivotal mounting of the dust exhaust system frame (23) is arranged on an end of the machine frame facing the cutting tools (9).
 20. A heading machine according to claim 2, wherein the vertical support is arranged in a region between the cutting tools (9) and the travelling mechanism (3). 